On Thursday in Budapest, Minister of Human Capacities Miklós Kásler, Minister of Interior Sándor Pintér and Minister for Innovation and Technology László Palkovics viewed the production hall of the prototype of the ventilator developed by the Budapest University of Technology and Economics.

Mr Palkovics described the start of the production of the ventilator developed by the Budapest University of Technology and Economics as a milestone because as a result, he said, the country’s exposure has been reduced. At the beginning of the coronavirus epidemic, we had to purchase ventilators from abroad, he recalled.

It is an excellent achievement, he added, that in just two months a machine had been completed which can be used in the treatment of patients.

The Minister also mentioned that at present the Ministry for Innovation and Technology is financing 24 projects related to the coronavirus to the value of three billion forints. Additionally, a national laboratory will be set up soon in which experts will research viruses, he added.

Minister of Human Capacities Miklós Kásler highlighted that the ventilator is of the highest world standard, it features all functions that previous ventilators had, while its electronics also allow the incorporation of further functions.

In Hungary at present, we have ventilators in sufficient numbers, but there is no way of knowing how the epidemic situation will change in the future, he said.

He added that in contrast to many countries, the government adopted the right measures at the right time in the fight against the epidemic, and this is also reflected in the number of infections and the number of fatalities.

According to the press release made available in conjunction with the event, the prototype of the ventilator was made by the University, while the conditions for production were created by BM Heros Zrt., a state-owned company. The production hall requiring special hygienic and safety features was built in just five weeks from HUF 100 million. According to plans, in the plant with a ground space of 450 square metres, 10 ventilators can be manufactured daily.

Only filtered air is allowed to flow into the assembly hall; no contamination can enter the equipment even via air. Workers are only allowed to enter in protective gear – special protective overalls with hoods, shoe covers, face masks, protective glasses and gloves, via an airlock system.

The machines are tested on site, as part of which they are operated with artificial lungs for an hour.

In addition to providing controlled mechanical breathing, the newly-developed ventilator is also capable of providing partial respiratory support, and preserves the patient’s breathing activity. The controls of the machine are capable of implementing any breathing program.

For the operation of the equipment, there is no need for specific breathing circuits; the machine can be operated with any economical breathing circuit. As a new feature, the machine guarantees the tidal volume by minimising respiratory pressure and optimising the flow curve, the communication reads.

(Cabinet Office of the Prime Ministe/MTI)